MCYT RANDOMNESS 2

The Arena pt 3

PoV: Pearl

The rescue is a blur.

One moment, Cub's threatening me, and the next he's collapsed. I hug Grian tighter. He's still crying. He hasn't stopped since Scar got possessed. My heart doesn't slow down. The crowd of Vexlings above is forced away. There's screams of pain and fear. Some manage to run. Most don't.

Through the havoc, some masked players who could only be Listeners drop from the ceiling. They're in turquoise green and pale yellow, with dark obsidian armour, scarves over their faces.

Martyn and Joel are top priority. I can't look over at them. The smell of smoke, burnt flesh, and blood is unmistakable. My gaze stays trained on the ground, the safest place to look without vomiting, or crying, or screaming. I don't want to think about Scott. I don't want to think about Joel. I don't want to think about Cub and Scar, what they did.

'You.'

My focus shifts to the Listening standing in front if me. I can't speak. I nod instead. Grian clings tighter to me.

'What is your name?'

'Pearl.' I whisper. 'Pearlescentmoon.'

'You're a Watcher.'

'Unwillingly. Years ago.'

'Great... the Watchers are our only witnesses!' the Listener tells the group.

'Then we take them for full interrogation,' another replies from where they're crouched next to Cub, cuffing him in what could only be bedrock. Scar's already being dragged across the floor, no care for his injuries.

'I'll take them to the interrogation room. Get the vexlings to the prison, and the others to medical. Summon Canary. He'll need to be told about BigDog... you, give me your hand.'

Grian doesn't move. The Listener swears at him, before grabbing both our hands. The world disappears into choking dark, and then blinding light. I stumble, wincing at the bright lights, forced into a chair. Grian's dragged away from me. Immediately, he starts fighting.

'No- no Pearl- PEARL- PLEASE-'

'Grian! Please, he's scared... Grian, try to stay calm...'

'They're LISTENERS, they're going to KILL US!' His feet dig into the ground, wings raised behind him. He tears free of the Listener, darting towards me. But they're faster, snatching his collar as he screams and struggles. 'PEARL- PEARL! GET OFF ME- GET AWAY- PEARL!'

'Someone restrain this one before they do anything!' The Listener demands. Another Listener appears behind me, forcing down my hands and tying them to the chair arms. I start struggling, my nervousness turned to terror. 'Make sure their pockets are empty, and they can't run away.'

'Hey- I've done nothing wrong! I'm gonna answer your questions!' I insist. The Listener starts searching through my pockets, taking all my stuff.

'DON'T HURT HER! DON'T HURT HER!' Grian screeches. The Listener with him pulls out a needle. Without hesitation, they inject him with something. Grian falls limp, and is carried from the room. I scream.

'GRIAN!'

'SHUT UP!' the Listener yells. I fall silent as the door closes and they start asking questions.

I'm questioned for what feels like hours about what happened. Most of it I spent crying, reliving the pain, some vomiting as my vague descriptions about Joel and Scott aren't good enough. I'm allowed out with a cold 'thank you for your cooperation. We will await other accounts to prove the legitimacy of yours', a tracker around my wrist and a guard to lead me to the room I am to stay in. And, immediately upon entering, I am barraged with yet another set of questions.